Lord Bamford names youngest son as JCB co-chair
JCBDigger manufacturer JCB is to operate under a joint chairmanship, with George Bamford taking on the role alongside his father, incumbent chairman Lord Bamford.
George Bamford, 45, who founded watch brand Bamford Watch Department, will take the role from the start of October.
It comes as Staffordshire-based JCB, which is due to open a new factory in Texas next month, accelerates investment in the UK and US.
JCB revealed a dip in profits of about 6.6% last year after a fall in machine sales but said its global market share had increased in 2025 despite contraction in growth in some key locations.
The Rocester-based company was founded by Joseph Cyril Bamford in 1945.
His son Lord Anthony Bamford has been chairman of the firm since 1975, driving forward its international expansion.
Lord Bamford said that last year JCB celebrated its 80th birthday and the firm was "investing heavily in the future of the business – from the transformation of our Staffordshire headquarters and pioneering hydrogen technology, to our new factory in Texas".
He stated as part of "that next chapter", he was "delighted" his son would become joint chairman.
He added: "We have never been a company that stands still, and these investments will ensure JCB is well placed to seize the opportunities ahead."
'Moderate growth'
The Texas site in San Antonio, said to create 1,500 jobs over the next five years, will see the company avoid tariff costs currently affecting UK-made products sold in the US.
JCB is also increasing investment in the UK, with a £100m transformation of its Rocester headquarters, including a £60m fully automated powder paint plant.
On Monday, the group revealed turnover dipped to £5.7bn in 2025, compared with £5.8bn a year earlier.
The firm sold 113,498 machine units for the year, falling by 5.2% year-on-year.
It stated pre-tax profits slipped to £642m for the year from £687.3m in 2024.
Chief executive Graeme Macdonald said: "While 2025 was a more challenging year with mixed market conditions around the world, JCB delivered a robust performance overall."
He said: "The overall outlook for 2026 is for moderate growth, despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, and with new capacity coming on stream in Texas and Staffordshire we are well placed to take advantage of it."
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